For the adventurer
IonIan ISLandS
These are a collection of seven islands
located in the Ionian Sea, west of the
mainland. Popular among nature lovers,
Lefkada is accessible by car from the
mainland near the town of Preveza.
With its vast terrain and exquisite
stretches of crystalline waters nestled
between fertile horseshoe cliffs, Lefkada
boasts thermal winds ideal for water sports.
Pebbly Vassiliki Beach is a heaven for
windsurfers and offers PADI-accredited
diving courses (www.underwater.gr). A
boat ride away is Porto Katsiki Beach.
It’s a big climb down to the sun-drenched
shore at the base of the ivory rock face,
but its warm waters and phenomenal
landscape are worth every trekking second.
An adrenalin junkie’s paradise, the east-
coast resort of Nidri offers jet-skiing, kite-
surfing and parasailing. It’s also the launch
pad for the Southern Ionian Regatta — one
of the Mediterranean’s most popular
yachting events. From here, board a boat to
the beautiful Papanikolis Sea Cave cut into
a mammoth limestone cliff. Nidri has
unparalleled views across to Skorpios — the
mysterious private island of late shipping
tycoon Aristotle Onassis and his family.
With 250 kilometres of rugged coastline,
Kefalonia is the largest of the Ionian islands
and best explored by motorbike. Hikers
will love fir-covered Mount Ainos National
Park with its spectacular landscape of
woodland and roaming horses.
Accessible from the village of Sami on
the east coast of the island are Kefalonia’s
extraordinary caves. Visit the 150-million-
year-old stalactite- and stalagmite-filled
Drogarati cave, as well as the magical,
subterranean Melissani with its double-
chambered cavern of cerulean waters.
The Ionians’ furthest island, Corfu, is
easily accessible due to its international
airport, which has frequent flights from
Europe (London is only three hours
away). With its history of Venetian,
French and British rule, it has a distinctly
cosmopolitan variety of sport activities.
While in Corfu, hope on a bicycle —
there’s an excellent road network leading
past scenic coves, golden beaches and
awe-inspiring mountain peaks.
Golf enthusiasts need only travel
20 minutes drive from Corfu’s town centre
to find the beautiful 18-hole golf course
at Corfu Golf Club (+30 2661 094 220;
www.corfugolfclub.com) in the fertile
Ropa Valley. Corfu also has a long
cricketing heritage and the gentleman’s
game is extremely popular here. There are
five pitches (www.cricketcorfu.com) on
the island, with facilities for both social
play and international tournaments.
Nicknamed ‘The Walking Island’ for its
variety of hiking paths, Corfu’s main
hiking track is the Corfu Trail (www.
thecorfutrail.com), a signposted stretch
running 220 kilometres from the north of
the island to the south. Non-athletes
need not worry, as there are many
alternative routes (www.corfuwalks.com)
of varying difficulty and terrain, which
will take you across majestic sandstone
plateaus and past olive-blanketed hills,
to traditional rural villages, juniper
dunes and stretches of aqua waters.
GettInG there To book your
Virgin Australia flight to Greece,
call 13 67 89 (in Australia) or visit
www.virginaustralia.com.
(clockwise from far left)
Local business in Corfu;
a toast to island life; the
waters of the Ionian Islands
are ideal for scuba diving;
a postcard-perfect village.
Lefkada
Kefalonia
Corfu
MAY 2012
074 | virginaustralia
traveL {greek islands}
Photography:GettyImages,HelenCathcart,HughPalmer,MilonakisKostas
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10/04/2012 4:03:40 PM